Fresh off his first major arena headlining tour, hip-shaking hit maker Luke Bryan has a career on the rise, with his single "That's My Kind of Night" currently ruling the top of country music charts, and a certified platinum album titled "Crash My Party."

While Bryan is famous for his signature shake on stage, the country boy told ABC News "20/20's" Amy Robach that the attention still makes him nervous.

"I've had panic attacks, you know, before big moments," Bryan said. "It's kind of fun. You know ... you want that anxiety of a big ... I mean, I'm nervous."

Born Thomas Luther Bryan, the country singer was the youngest son of a peanut farmer from rural Leesburg, Ga.

"He was sickly when he was little baby, so I bounced him all the time ... and hummed "'Rock of Ages,'" Bryan's mother, LeClaire, told "20/20." "He could literally hum "Rock of Ages" before he could talk."

Bryan later joined high school musicals and started his own band. By the time he was 19, he planned to move to Nashville to follow his dreams.

Courtesy Luke Bryan

PHOTO: Country star Luke Bryan is pictured here with his sister Kelly at his Grand Ole Opry debut.

But days before Bryan was going to leave home, tragedy struck his family.